But I don't see how house-to-house fighting is inevitable.I'm not saying that it is, but you must plan for it -- we agree on that. In an urban environment it would only take a small percentage of diehards to inflict a lot of casualties, particularly when using unconventional weapons.
Especially when you throw in the American lack of patients and demand for quick results, there will be a lot more pressure on the generals to do something and do it quick. Aka: take Baghdad by force.